Many state and federal directives require local governments to provide services or programs without providing the appropriate monies or funding sources. These directives, which are known as “unfunded mandates,” can compromise a county or local government's ability to provide essential services that have been deemed appropriate by the local community. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners opposes any federal or state legislative actions that create an additional financial burden on local governments, as these “unfunded mandates” require resources that would otherwise be used to fund local needs and community services.

These mandated expenditures significantly impact the County budget. The State and Federal mandates include but are not limited to: